14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.[a]”
Question 1
If someone asked you what ‘faith’ is, how would you answer?
Question 2
Do you ever try to do things for God in your own strength?
This passage from the Gospel of Mark deals with two crucial parts of the Christian life, faith and prayer. We hear that a man has a child, and that boy has suffered since a young age under the influence of an evil spirit. This spirit was causing him to have seizures of some kind, and even tried to get the boy to kill himself. The father had heard about how Jesus and his disciples had been healing people and hoped they would be able to help. But the pupils can’t do anything. It looks as if they have become proud and believe that they can help the boy in their own strength instead of praying to God. Their confidence wasn’t in the right place and so their faith was weak.
When Jesus arrives and the father asks if he can help, Jesus explains that anything is possible if you have faith, if your confidence is in him. The man’s response says it all – “I believe, I have faith, but it is weak. Help me believe.” He clearly realises that he can’t help himself or his son, and asks Jesus for help, and for the strength to believe. He relies on Jesus to strengthen his faith.
After Jesus heals the boy, he explains to the disciples that prayer is necessary to perform actions like this. So, read the passage again, and look for the prayer. There is no mention that the disciples prayed, neither did Jesus. The only person calling out for help is the father. He prays to Jesus for help, and the Son of God answers his prayer. So, faith is to put your confidence in God rather than in yourself, and prayer is to call out to God realising that you are unable to help yourself, and that only God can help you.
Question 3
Why do you think the disciples have become proud?
Question 4
Have you ever experienced a lack of faith? What things can help strengthen your faith?
Pray
that God would help you in those places where your faith is weak, and that you would rely on Him in all things.
